Sexual abuse case: HC dismisses anticipatory bail plea of IT firm owner

The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed an anticipatory bail plea filed by Venu Gopalakrishnan, an IT entrepreneur, in a sexual abuse case, while granting anticipatory bail to three of his employees who were co-accused in the case.

The case had been registered against him on a complaint by a former woman employee of his firm, who had earlier been arrested in an alleged honey-trap case filed by Mr. Gopalakrishnan.

Dismissing his bail plea, a Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that the offences alleged against him, including rape, were extremely serious and were supported prima facie by materials available. Given his alleged influence, there was every likelihood of his tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. When the owner of an establishment itself is alleged to have committed such serious offences, protecting him with anticipatory bail will render the investigation ineffective, the court said.

Meanwhile, the court granted anticipatory bail to the other accused — Jacob P. Thampy, Eby Paul, and Bimalraj Haridas. They were employees of the firm and were accused of threatening the woman employee. No allegations of sexual abuse were raised against them, and the allegations against them were confined to threats, the court said and directed them to appear before the investigating officer on September 18 for interrogation.